Stand Up Paddleboarding / Sailing
In the 2017 Race to Alaska (R2AK), Karl became the first, and only, person to paddle the 750 mile race course on a Stand Up Paddleboard, completing the race in 14 days and 6 hours.
In 2022 Karl paddled 420 miles of the Northwest Passage from Tuktoyaktuk to Paulatuk in Canada's Northwest Territories. What began as a single-season bid evolved into a multi-year expedition to go deeper into what the Arctic offers.
Karl has been on the water his whole life. His father began his education as a paddler when he was 3 years old. He taught himself to windsurf at age 12, 38 years ago. Karl began teaching sailing when he was 17, and now holds a United States Coast Guard 100 Ton Master’s License with Sail and Tow endorsements. For over 20 years, he has cruised extensively in the San Juan Islands, Canadian Gulf Islands, the Canadian Coast, and Alaska.
Karl holds a B.S. in Environmental Science/ Toxicology and an A.A.S. in Ecology and Environmental Technology. He also holds current certifications for CPR and Outdoor Emergency Care.
